Awning structure and method of making same



May 8, 1956 N. L. ETTEN AWNING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1951 [UK/E17 ZZUF M'c'ho/as L. E! fen 3Sheets-Sheet film N. L. ETTEN AWNING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAMEMay 8, 1956 Filed Feb. 17, 1951 [TX En Tap M'cho/as L. E/zen May 8, 1956N. L. ETTEN 2,744,300

AWNING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 17, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent AWNING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OFMAKING SAME Nicholas L. Etten, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assignor toChamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of IowaApplication February 17, 1951, Serial No. 211,547

3 Claims. (Cl. 20--57.5)

ventilative and non-ventilative in character, and made of metal orsimilar material colored as desired, have been developed and used. Inmany cases, such structures have been objectionable insofar as expenseof manufacture is concerned, and in view of the numerous sizes that hadto be made to accommodate all the various size windows and otheropenings over which an awning may be disposed. in every instance ofwhich I am aware, a completed awning, especially a metallic one, cannotbe adjusted as to width after once being completed. Therefore, if awindow were an inch or two narrower or broader than the closest sizeawning obtainable, special awnings would have to be made but that is inmost instances prohibitively expensive. In other instances, awnings ofthis character heretofore known did not provide sufficient ventilation,did not provide adequate drainage, and were not always as pleasing inappearance as may be desired.

With the foregoing in mind, it .is an important object of the instantinvention to provide a stationary awning that is extremely economical tomanufacture and which embodies slats interlocked with eachother andextending longitudinally of the canopy of the awning.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of aventilation type fixed awning with the slats so constructed as to formdrain channels for the ready removal of moisture from the awning.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide an awningembodying a plurality of slats extending longitudinally of the canopy ofthe awning, but which slats are inclined laterally to the horizontal.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an awning ofthe character herein set forth embodying slats extending longitudinallyof the canopy of the awning and in which the center portion of thecanopy is peaked, sloping laterally both ways from the median line ofthe canopy.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an awningembodying separated slats extending longitudinally of the canopy of theawning, the slats providing adequate ventilation through the canopy ofthe awning, and at the same time being loosely interlocked to provideadequate drainage, and wherein the canopy has an integrally formedvertically hanging skirt across the front thereof.

Another desideraturn of the invention resides in the provision of afixed ventilation type awning that may be varied in width at the time ofmanufacture to a relatively great extent and to very fine dimensions,and still be made economically in mass production. Thus, awnings ofsubstantially any width may be provided in mass production with but anegligible addition in cost, even if specially ordered.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide an awning in which thewidths of the canopy may be varied during'manufacture, with no change inthe slats of the canopy or the end panels of the awning being necessary.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a new and novel methodof making an awning of the character set forth herein.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a fragmentary pictorialillustration of an awning embodying principles of the instant inventionshown mounted in operating position over a window;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the awningstructure alone, with parts broken away to show interior construction;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the awning and itsmounting taken substantially as indicated by the line IHIII of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged bottom plan view of the underside ofan end panel and the underside of the canopy, taken substantially fromthe left-hand side of Fig. 1, with the central portion of the canopyeliminated for purposes of clarity; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through thecanopy portion of the awning taken substantially as indicated by theline VV of Fig. 2.

As shown on the drawings:

With reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the illustrated embodimentof the instant invention is shown associated with a building 1 andattached to the sash frame 2 of a window. The upper portion of theawning is preferably suspended from a pair of spaced hooks 3-3, Figs. 2.and 3, which are screwed or equivalently mounted on the sash frame 2.

With reference again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the awning'itselfincludes a canopy generally indicated by numeral 4, a pair of like endpanels generally indicated, by numeral 5, and a water shed generallyindicated by numeral 6. The entire awning structure, save for rivets,bolts, and the like, is preferably made of stamped metal, aluminum beinghighly satisfactory for this purpose, although sheet metal ofsubstantially any kind may also be used. The outer and inner surfaces ofthe metal are preferably covered with any suitable paint or enamel inany desired colors or color schemes.

With reference toPigs. .3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that each end frame5 is of generally triangular configuration. Each end frame embodies ahorizontal reinforcing rail or batten, generally indicated by numeral"7, and of angular shape, having an inwardly extending lateral flange 8and a depending flange 9. The depending flange 9 is slotted at intervalsas indicated at 10 to form spaced slat holding brackets or teeth 11which, as seen best in Fig. 4; are so bent as to assume an inclined orangular position relatively to the dependingv flange 9. One end of eachbracket 11 is substantially flush with the depending flange 9 of thebatten, while the other end is spaced outwardly therefrom. As seen bestin Fig. 3, the inner end of the horizontal flange 8 is turned downwardlyas at 12 and bolted or equivalently securedto the sash frame indicatedat 13 when the awning is mounted.

Each end frame also includes a simdarly' formed reinforcing rail orbatten 14 at the upper portion thereof,

but which is disposed at an angle to the lower batten 7 to provide thehypotenuse for the generally triangular configuration of the end panel.The batten 14 is of substantially the same construction as the batten 7just above described. The inner end portion of the upper flange of thebatten 14 is extended as indicated at 15 in Fig. and is also providedwith an aperture to engage over the aforesaid hook 3 mounted on the sashframe 2.

Extending vertically and secured to each of the battends 7 and 14 is aplurality of slats 16, certain of which extend slightly below others,preferably in an alternative manner as seen clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 fordecorative purposes.

As seen clearly in Fig. 4, each of these slats is of substantially aflattened Z shape in cross section and embodies a flat central portion17 having an inwardly extending flange 18 along one side edge thereof,and a similar outwardly turned flange 19 along the opposite side edge.The central portion 17 of each flange is riveted or equivalently securedto each of the battens 7 and 14 as indicated at 20. These slats are soarranged that the inwardly turned flange 18 of one slat overlaps andengages the outwardly turned flange 19 of the next adjacent slat, sothat there is no space between them and consequently no opening througheither end frame. Should ventilation through an end frame be desired,the slats may be mounted with the same interlocking effect, but with theadjacent flanges 18 and 19 spaced slightly apart to provide a tortuouspassageway between slats for air, although in practically everyinstallation there is no need whatever for ventilation through the endpanels.

As is evident from the showing in Fig. 3, the upper ends of the slats 16are cut off slantwise in keeping with the slope of the batten 14 andterminate substantially flush with the upper surface of this batten.

The awning canopy includes a pair of spaced transversely extendingbattens 21-21 of identical construction which are bolted or equivalentlysecured to the lateral flanges of the end frame battens 1414 asindicated at 22 in Fig. 5. This canopy also includes a batten 23extending transversely across the skirt portion of the canopy, thisbatten being substantially identical in construction with the abovedescribed end frame batten 7 with the exception that its slat supportingbrackets are bent in opposite directions on either side of its center aswill more fully later appear. The batten 23 is bolted or equivalentlysecured to the lower battens 7-7 of the end panels as indicated at 24 inFigs. 2 and 3.

With reference now to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the slat supportingbrackets of the batten 23 slope inwardly toward the left-hand end panelas one faces the awning from the outside for half the width of thecanopy as indicated at 25, and slope inwardly in the opposite directiontoward the right-hand end panel on the other side of the center line asindicated at 26. The same is true with the slat supporting brackets 27of the battens 21-21.

At each end thereof, each of the battens 2121 and the batten 23 isprovided with a shorter slat supporting bracket 28 to .permit room forthe end connections of all these battens with those on the respectiveend panels.

The awning canopy includes a plurality of slats 29 extendinglongitudinally of the canopy, and these slats are of the sameconstruction as the slats 16 above described, with one exception, namelythat the forward portions thereof are split in the flanges as indicatedat 30 in Fig. 3 so that the slats may be bent downwardly to form theskirt extending across the front of the canopy. In fact, a smalltriangular notch is made in each vertical flange of each slat, and whenthe bond is accomplished, the side edges of the notches abut each other.Now with reference again to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the two slats29 as the very center of the canopy have respective downwardly turnedflanges in abutment as indicated at 31. In other words, the slats on onehalf the canopy are reversed in position to those on the other side inthat on 4 both sides the downwardly extending flange of each slat istowards the center of the awning. This leaves a double slat combinationof peaked formation to enhance the appearance of the canopy as a whole.These slats 29 are, of course, riveted to the respective batten bracketsas indicated at 32 in the same manner as above described in connectionwith the end frames or panels.

It will be noted from the showing in Figs. 4 and 5 that at each sideedge of the canopy, a slat 33 is provided which has both flangesdownwardly turned. Thus the innermost flange may be in an interlockingrelation with the upwardly turned flange of the adjacent slat, while theouter flange forms a screen as at 34 to conceal the upper marginalportion of the adjacent end panel and thus enhance the appearance of theawning as a whole.

At the top of the awning, to prevent any leakage between the awning andthe window it covers, is a water shed 6. This water shed embodies anupstanding flange 35 turned inwardly at the top as at 36 to contact thesash inc above the hooks 3-3 as best seen in Fig. 3. The \I'EiCI' shedmay be attached by means of a screw 37 or the equivalent whichpreferably passes through a suitable aperture in the adjacent hook 3 andinto the sash frame behind the hook. The water shed also includes asloping forward panel 38, the end portions of which are bent obliquelyas indicated at 39 to intimately overlie the sloping portion of the endslats 33-33 of the canopy.

in mounting the awning in position, it is a simple expedient to firstattach the hooks 3--3 to the sash frame in required locations. Then theentire awning including the end panels and the canopy is hooked over thehooks 33, and the screws 13 in the lower of the end frame battens 7--"7secured in the sash frame. After that it is a simple expedient to putthe water shed in position. Thus it will be seen that one man can easilymount the entire awning in place.

The instant awning lends itself to the economical mass productionmanufacture of awnings in almost any desired width. The transversebattens 21-21, and 23 are simple stampings, as is the water shed 6.These stampings may be lengthened or shortened very economically.Nothing else need be changed to narrow or widen the entire awning, sincethe end panels would be identical in all cases. As to the assembly ofthe canopy, it is a simple expedient to more or less overlap the canopyslats 29. With reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that in theillustrated showing the flanges of adjacent slats are spaced apart asindicated at 40 alternately with the flanges of adjacent slats being incontact with each other as indicated at 41. it will be seen that itwould be a simple expedient to narrow the illustrated canopy byproviding a space at 41 instead of permitting the slat flanges tocontact. On the other hand, it would be a simple expedient to widen thecanopy by providing contact or approximate contact where the spaces 40now occur. It makes little difference how large the spaces 40 may be orhow narrow, depend ing upon the desired width of canopy. However, it ispreferable to always have some space between adjacent tlanges at someparts of the canopy so that the canopy is adequately ventilated, the airfollowing the tortuous path defined by the spaced flanges on the slats.

But in any event, it will be noted that the battens for the canopy andthe water shed may be made in mass production in a considerable varietyof lengths, and the assemblage of the canopy is the same for everylength so that it would not add materially to the cost of manufactureeven to fill a special order of only a few awnings in an irregular size.

My novel method of making the instant awning is believed to besutiiciently apparent from the foregoing as to warrant no furtherdescription herein.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an awning, a pair of spaced end panels having aligned upper edgesin an inclined plane, and a top structure secured to said end panels andcomprising: a plurality of slats disposed generally in said inclinedplane and extending in generally parallel relation to said upper edges,the upper surface of each slat being inclined with respect to saidinclined plane with one side edge of each slat being higher than theother side edge thereof, and said slats being overlapped with the lowerside edge portions of certain ones of said slats underlying the upperside edge portions of adjacent slats, and upstanding flanges on thelower side edges of said certain ones of said slats for providingchannels for flow of water to the lower end of said top structure.

2. In an awning, a pair of spaced end panels having aligned upper edgesin an inclined plane, and a top structure secured to said end panels andcomprising: a plurality of slats disposed generally in said inclinedplane and extending in generally parallel relation to said upper edges,the upper surface of each slat being inclined with respect to saidinclined plane with one side edge of each slat being higher than theother side edge thereof, and said slats being overlapped with the lowerside edge portions of certain ones of said slats underlying the upperside edge portions of adjacent slats, and upstanding flanges on thelower side edges of said certain ones of said slats for providingchannels for flow of water to the lower end of said top structure, theupper surfaces of the slats on each side of a vertical plane midwaybetween said end panels being inclined toward the end panel on the sameside of said plane.

3. In an awning, a pair of spaced end panels having inclined upperedges, a plurality of spaced generally parallel horizontal battenssecured between said inclined upper edges of said end panels, inclinedslat holding brackets on said battens, said brackets being oppositelyinclined on opposite sides of a vertical plane midway between said endpanels, and a plurality of slats secured to said brackets in generallyparallel relation to said inclined upper edges of said end panels, theposition of said slats on said brackets being adjustable in manufactureof said awning to adjust the width of the awning while maintainingsymmetrical construction thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.20,975 Houseman Jan. 10, 1939 1,791,058 Gregg Feb. 3, 1931 2,458,619McKinley Jan. 17, 1949 2,480,447 Cate Aug. 30, 1949 2,486,660 Kurtz Nov.1, 1949 2,546,386 Ciciarelli Mar. 27, 1951 2,560,248 Riemann July 10,1951 2,565,884 Raibourn Aug. 28, 1951 2,568,679 Freeth Sept. 18, 19512,586,318 Fields Feb. 19, 1952 2,599,083 Wynne June 3, 1952 2,681,482Heirich June 22, 1954 2,690,599 Thompson et al Oct. 5, 1954

